Last One Standing ~ TWD Daryl Dixon

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Hi guys, settle in, this is a long one. I hope you enjoy! Please keep the comments and votes coming I love to hear from you guys, you are the best! 

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Jo

Daryl was sitting out on the porch when Carol and I stepped out together. He glanced once at us and they went back to adjusting the tension on his crossbow. Apparently there just wasn't enough tension in his life already.

We were due at the pantry in about five minutes. Carol looked the part dressed like Martha Stewart in slacks and a nice cardigan. "Time to punch the clock and make the casseroles," Carol said brightly trying to draw Daryl's attention to us. 

I kicked at one of the porch planks with my stupid ballet flats. I don't know why she bothered, he was already pissed off. It would be better to give him time to cool down.

"What?" Daryl snapped, looking up at the two of us. He ran his eyes over the both of us and shook his head. I did the same, we probably looked a little strange for those who
knew us well. Two of the groups strongest fighters looking like innocent homemakers.

Carol flashed a determined smile. "Make dinner for the older people, moms who need a break, people who can't cook," Daryl was unmoved by her words. "Get to meet a lot of the neighbors that way," she said meaningfully.

Daryl scoffed, still too pissed to catch her meaning. "All right," he said as though it were the stupidest thing he had ever heard. "Either of you even armed anymore?" he snapped angrily.

Carol dropped her Susie homemaker act, her voice lowered an octave and she glared at Daryl severely. "Have you even taken a shower yet?"

"Mmhhmm," he didn't stop messing with his crossbow.

She glanced at me and I shrugged. Controlling Daryl had never been something I was any good at. I was more likely to get him worked up than calmed down.

Carol shook her head as though we were exhausting her. We probably were. "Take a shower, I'm going to wash that vest. We need to keep up appearances, even you."

"Hey I ain't starting now," he snapped.

"You're scaring the civilians," I growled back. My back was still up after our fight downstairs.

"Like I care about them."

"You-" I started to yell, but Carol interrupted me. 

Carol grabbed my arm and swung me around so I was facing the stairs. She shoved my ahead of her. "I'm gonna hose you down in your sleep," Carol threatened playfully over her shoulder trying to diffuse the tension between us.

"You look ridiculous." Daryl called unkindly after us.

We were a half a block away before Carol looked at me. I huffed and stomped my feet hard enough I could feel every pebble through the stupid, soft soled shoes. My hands were gripped into fists at my sides.

Carol cleared her throat and lifted her hand to wave to a woman I hadn't met yet. She spoke with clenched teeth through her smile. "If we show up at the pantry with you looking like this you are going to be the one scaring civilians."

I looked up at her annoyed. "It's his fault," I growled. "He's the one-"

"You can't let him get to you like this, it is imperative we keep up appearances. They can't think we have people fighting in our group."

"Me?!" my voice rose a few octaves in outrage. This was not MY fault. It was his stupid, stubborn redneck ass's fault.

Carol gave me a stern look and cleared her throat. It was the epitome of the mom look. I looked away. She was right, my voice was too loud and I was too upset. A block away from the pantry I plastered on a smile and turned to Carol.